RUTH REICHL: Anybody Who Believes Yelp Is An Idiot

Ruth Reichl is one of the top names in the foodie community — and
for good reason. The former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct
Gourmet magazine, Reichl has since signed a three-book deal with
Random
House, worked at Gilt Taste, and become a producer for her
book-turned-movie "Garlic and Sapphires."

On Yelp:
"Anybody who believes Yelp is an idiot. Most people on Yelp have
no idea what they’re talking about."

On Zagat:
"I’ve always hated Zagat. If I’m going to listen to someone
else’s opinions on restaurants, I don’t care if I agree or not. I
just want to know who they are. If you follow critics, you know
whether they’re Francophiles, or if they like a lot of spice. I
know what [Times critic] Pete Wells’s biases are. We mostly
agree. He’s not a snob, which is rare among critics. He loves
food and has been brave with his reviews."

On what her life was like at Condé Nast:
"A car, hair, and makeup every morning at your house if you
wanted it…It’s not real life, in some important way. People gave
each other lavish gifts. If somebody retired at Condé Nast in
those days, your secretary would go buy a $500 gift. Some editors
at Condé Nast have never been on the subway—they’d take a car to
go two blocks!"